Teen Beach Movie Fashion: Inside Mack & Lela’s ’60s Style

When she first surfed aboard Disney Channel’sTeen Beach Movie, costume designer Ruth E. Carter (pictured far right) immediately turned her sartorial clock back in time in search of inspiration for the decade-set summer flick. And though most of her biker and surfer looks were pieced together from vintage finds, Ruth did stock the costume closet with some modern day threads.

Below, the wardrobe maven takes OSS readers back in time to explain how she brough Maia Mitchell‘s McKenzie (a.k.a Mack) and Grace Phipps‘ Lela to life.

1. When you were first approached to outfit TBM, what was your initial research process? Did you research 1960s movies for inspiration? 1960s magazines? Where were the specific places you found the best info on 1960s wardrobes?

My first instinct was to run to the costume collectors — like Palace Costumes and The Way We Wore — and took a look at REAL swimsuits from the early 60s! I took a few to my interview, and after I go the job I wanted to see more. After that, I looked at movies, like Beach Blanket Bingo and Beach Party. I broke open my collections of old SEARS catalogs and began to design the movie.

2. Where did you go shopping or hunt down most of the cast’s wardrobe for the movie?

I went to Palace Costume Company in Los Angeles first. They have the biggest collection of this era. And it was a treasure trove! Not only did they have swimsuits, they had most of the clothing you see in the movie. I went to fabric stores and bought tons of fabric for the biker look. Then, when I got to Puerto Rico, we set up a workshop. There, I recreated my favorite pieces for the cast. I also went shopping at vintage stores but mostly shopped at the mall! Abercrombie & Fitch had great horizontal striped t-shirts for guys. J Crew had capri pants. We went to the GAP for skinny jeans with stretch. Dancers need a little stretch in their lives!

3. Where did you get the Hawaiian friendship necklace that Lela gave to McKenzie (pictured above, left on Grace)? Was it already on the pearls or was that you idea?

That makes me really happy to hear you ask that! The charm came from the art department because it was the same [design] as the one on the surf board. But is was my idea to put it on the pearls. Pearls are classic. They come from the water. They are soooo Lela. And I like it because it made them stand out.

MCKENZIE’S YELLOW, FLORAL DRESS:
This was a vintage pick by Ruth. “The fabric is one of those fabrics that feels spongy like an old swimsuit,” the costumer recalled. “I think that this dress in the 1960 would be bought along with a matching swimsuit and headscarf.”GET THE LOOK:

LELA’S RED AND WHITE POLKA DOT DRESS:
“Polka Dots are back! Again! And they will continue to dot in and out of the fashion scene,” Ruth said. “We all love polka dots, but Lela’s red and white dress was real vintage. I purchased it from a collector in LA.”GET THE LOOK:

MCKENZIE’S GREEN, RUFFLE-TRIM CROP TOP:
This was one of Ruth’s original designs for TBM. “We made them right there in Puerto Rico. So, they are truly one-of-a-kind pieces. However, they were inspired by the styles that I observed in the Sears catalogs that I used to research the movie.”GET THE LOOK:

LELA’S PINK LEATHER JACKET:
Ruth faced the peril’s of online shopping when she ordered the girly piece of outerwear for Grace. “The jacket was ordered in an XS and when we recieved it it was 5 sizes too big. So we cut it down to her size!” The stylist also said she used the character Pinky Tuscadero from the 1950s-based TV show Happy Days as inspiration for the character. “Pinky always wore pink boots. So in the spirit of PT, I gave Lela pink boots and a pink jacket!”GET THE LOOK:

Lela I want Be like you the of Bikers I Get to Chose my own Close OK Can I GO on your Bike Places I love you you look like My Sister and your My Favorite in the Movie L My Favorite Song is Falling for you I’m Going to put it on my iPod OK

I really love all of the outfits used in the movie. Not one was bad to me. I LOVE TEEN BEACH MOVIE! Best movie ever made…definitely. I wish I was in the movie, had all the outfits, and lived that life…so amazing.

hey girl whats up i really want to meet you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much.thats how bad i want to meet you.

oh ya im going to be you for halloween! thank you soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much for doing this.every day at school my friends and i dance and sing teen beach movie songs at school because we love teen beach movie soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much.thank you.

hey does any one know if there R auditions any where near elk city for a part in a tv show or movie cause ive been dying for a part im soooo needing a part so pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaasse reply to my post that would be greeeeeeeaaaaattt!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thx a bajillion!!

Hey grace phillaps I am Laura Leigh. And I love you you are a so cool I look you up on my dads phone all the time you are my b biggest fan ever I have the tean beach Movie sd my brothers and sister don’t like you as much as I do i even now your hoie name it’s grace. Victorea phillaps I even have a lot of pitchers of you on my dads phone of you this is my phone number 601 810 9411 bye now

I like this because it is a good idea to have a good idea like that and I like also how she sing evry song good like im faling for you I think the moive derector has a very nice idea and has great costumes and voices I wish I can act just like her .

i really want a dress that looks exactly like Lelas!! wit the white rim and the deep pockets, that is super cute!! i looked for dresses similar but it just didnt work for me. i like to pay attention to detail, do you think i would have to make my own dress?

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